22 | JUNE 2 • 2022 

J

udaism is active and 
thriving at Congregation 
of Moses (CoM) in 
Kalamazoo, the more than 
130-year-old synagogue that’s 
occupied its current site on 
Stadium Drive since 1961.
CoM, an egalitarian 
traditional synagogue, 
welcomes all interfaith families. 
According to CoM records, 
Articles of Incorporation were 
filed with the city of Kalamazoo 
in 1891 for the Congregation 
of the Children of the House of 
Moses. 
In June 1902, property was 
purchased on East South Street 
for the purpose of building a 
synagogue. In 1905, the name 
of the group, composed of 
some 16 families, was officially 
changed and shortened to 
the Congregation of Moses. 
Cornerstone-laying ceremonies 
took place in 1906, followed 
by the dedication ceremony in 
March 1907. A resident rabbi 
was hired for the sum of $400 
per year. The congregation had 
come into its own. 
The end of World War 
Il caused economic and 

population growth in the 
area, which affected the 
congregation. It was decided 
that larger facilities were 
needed and, in 1946, the 
building formerly occupied by 
Temple B’nai Israel, 
the Reform Jewish 
congregation 
in Kalamazoo, 
was acquired. It 
was at that point 
CoM opted to 
relinquish its ties to 
Orthodox Judaism 
and become 
affiliated with 
the Conservative 
movement.
As the 1960s 
arrived, the needs of an ever-
expanding community once 
again came into focus, and the 
property on Stadium Drive was 
acquired. Early in 1960, the 
cornerstone was cemented into 
place. In June 1961, the new 
synagogue was dedicated and a 
new spiritual home was born.
Rabbi Hannah Estrin has 
been CoM’s transitional rabbi 
for nearly a year. CoM is 
planning to bring in a new full-

time rabbi a year 
from now. Rabbi 
Harvey Spivak 
was CoM’s lead 
rabbi for 30+ 
years prior to Estrin. CoM 
currently has 101 family units.

A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES
Along with offering a wide 
variety of services, education 
and programming, CoM takes 
part in a lot of casual activities. 
“Every month I ask a 
member to plan an activity, and 
it can be whatever they want as 
long as it’s good for five to 20 
people, that’s the sweet point,
” 

Estrin said. “We’ve gone cross-
country skiing. We’ve done 
a paint night. We also have a 
really active gardening group. 
We really try to get outside of 
the building.
” 
CoM also works with two 
churches to help refugees. 
Members of the community 
have donated clothes, shoes 
and toys to CoM, and refugees, 
including Afghan refugees, can 
pick up what they need. 
“There’s a lot of variety, and 
my goal has always been to 
reach people where they are,
” 
Estrin said. 
CoM does two or three 

The shul strives to “reach 
people where they are.”

Kalamazoo’s 
Congregation 
of Moses 
Continues 
to Grow 
 

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

OUR COMMUNITY

Congregation 
of Moses

Rabbi 
Hannah 
Estrin

SYNAGOGUE SPOTLIGHT

